Women win TT Varsity title and Oxford repeat double bronze success

Women win TT Varsity title and Oxford repeat double bronze success

This weekend saw Oxford host the BUCS 25 time trial championships, incorporating the annual Oxford v Cambridge TT varsity match. The culmination of our time trialling season, this was a race everyone had been looking forward to. The conditions seemed reasonably quick, albeit with high air pressure and the challenge of dealing with the unseasonably warm temperatures.

Among the early starters came a number of strong Oxford perfomances including sub-53 minute rides for Matt Kerin and Oliver Bent and sub-hour rides for Issy Dodds and Mimi Harrison.

Issy and Mimi’s rides set the tone for the day with Tamara Davenne and Rebecca te Water Naude both following their example in recording times inside of an hour. Things were looking positive for the women’s trophy to remain in Oxford hands, but with several of the Cambridge women being among the last riders to start all we could do was wait.

In the mean time the Cambridge men recorded some exceptional times to secure BUCS gold and retain the varsity title. Behind them, the men’s BUCS team standings were looking close with several universities having chances at winning medals. Ultimately it was Alex Bradley’s strong 53:13 that secured the team bronze medal for our men.

As the final riders crossed the line it was soon clear that our women had not only beaten Cambridge but also secured BUCS bronze. A fantastic result that is indicative of the depth of talented riders that has developed in our women’s squad.